Elevating-truck.



G. W. DREXELIUS.

ELEvATlNG TRUCK. y

APPLICATION FILED )UNE 17. 1914.

1 q l 34, l l 3. 4Patented Apr. e, 1915L s SHEETS-SHEET 1.

eozye W. ra/faam G. W. DREXELIUS.

ELEVATlNG TRUCK.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11, 1914.

1,1 34,1 1 3 Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

3 SHBETSSHEET 2. E I E Eb vG. W. DREXELIS.

ELEVATING TRUCK.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17, 1914.

1,134,11 3, Patented Apr. 6,1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3..

. entre GEORGE DREXELIUS, F BALTIMGRE, MARYLAND. ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WALTER R. METZ, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

ELEVATNG-TRUCK.

inserta.

.Specication o Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

Application filed .Tune 17, 1914. Serial No. 845,602.

. Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented new and useful Improvements 1n Elevating-Trucks, of which the following isV a specification.

This invention relates to trucks eitherA hand or power operated, and particularly to elevating trucks, the object being to provide trucks, particularly small hand-drawn trucks 'U move vheavy loads resting on supports of with an elevating mechanism whichnormally lies below the top of the truck to be out of the way when loading the truck in the ordinary manner, butwhen desired to suiicient height the truck is run beneathsaid load and the elevating mechanism operated to lift the load above its supports and free therefrom so that the truck and the' load may be drawn to its destination and the load lowered upon supports there provided and the truck withdrawn.

vThe elevating mechanism of the present invention is designed to raise and lower the load'v'ery quickly with the least exertion and to automatically lock the mechanism when in its highest position against accidental lowering thereof. Cushioni'ng means are also provided to prevent sudden stoppage of the mechanism should the nrechar'lism become accidentally released while being raised or lowered.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate one form of the present invention, Figure 1 is a plan view of a hand truck provided with the improved elevatin mechanism. Fig. 2 is a side view thereof. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional View on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing the elevating mechanism in its lowermost position. Fig. 4 is a similar view with the elevating mechanism in its highest position. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1. Figs. 6

and 7 are diagrammatic views of the elevat' ing mechanism in4 its lowest and highest positions illustrating the coperation of the Ilevers for actuating the mechanism and for locking said mechanism when elevated.

In the drawings, the top of the truck 10 in the present instance is shown in the form of an open rectangular frame made preferably of angle-iron, between. the sides of which extend two bars 11 and 12 bolted to said sides and serving amongother uses to increase the rigidity of the frame. These bars are spaceda suitable distance from the l front and rear ends of the truck and are provided at their ends with right-angled feet 13 which bear upon the sides of the frame and through which the fastening bolts pass for securing said bars to the frame.

Between the cross-bar 11 and the rear end 14 of the truck are two kopen rectangular frames 15 that incline downwardly from their ends to their' centers and within each of which frames is journaled a rear wheel 16 on a vshort shaft 17. 'At the front of the truck between the cross-bar l2 and the front end 17a is a vbolster 18` that is preferably made with a depression between .its ends through which is formed a vertical hole to receive a king bolt 19 that also passes through.` a front axle 20 upon which are mounted wheels 21. A handle 22 when such is used for drawing the truck is mounted in eye-bolts 23 fastened on the front axle. a

- On the front face of the cross-bar 11 and the rear face of the cross-bar 12 near. the ends of said bars are formed two parallel ribs 24, each two ribs forming a slideway 25 for a post 26 slidable vertically between said ribs. On the sides of each post 26 is a VHarige .27, the two flanges fitting snugly vmeans now to be described.

Extending longitudinally of the truck in the central line thereof is a shaft 29 the rear end of which is journaled in the crossbar 11 and its front end in the forward end of the bolster 18, said shaft passing through the crossbar 12. front of the cross-bar 11 and also in rear of the cross-bar 12 are two levers 30, the shaft passing through the center of the levers leaving their ends free to vibrate with the shaft, which ends are connected by four links 31, each to the center of a toggle 32 formed of two links 33 and 34. The upper link 33 of each toggle is pivotally connected Pinned to the shaft 29 in i simultaneously raise the posts 26 to their to a post 26 while the loweroon'ipanionv link 34 is pivoted on a stud 'projectingfrom a depending bracket'fr on'th'eunderside of the respective cross-bars il and 12. Upon rocking the shaft 29 the 'lei/HSBC, through the links 3l straightening the toggles and l front end of the frame 10. Projectingy from `v s. mechanismis to be vput to use the hand-lever 37 is raised .to a vertical position, o r a vto necting -42` that' 4extends between .the crank' arms-41 and 435which-bear upon the straight-line' position.-` The weight of the v"loadno'w acts-to further-fold," the vtoggles,

the shaft 38 is a crank armV 41 connected Abya link 42 toa similar cranklarm 43 on the shaft 29. -When the elevating-mechanism. is out of use, the hand-lever- 37 lies 'in a horizontal position parallel to the front end of the framev and supportedat its free end by astop 44. When, however, the elevating oslf/ tion moreor lessbeyond'the vertical, t 1ereby roelng the shaft 38 -andI thi-ou hthe" two crank arms 41,; 43and the link 2, the shaft 29 'is' rocked' the elevating meohanism raised. 7 i if." ,"`f

Means whereby the posts 26 are looked in their elevated position is clearly' shown'in" Figs. 6 and 7. In Fig. 6 whichfrepre'sents I the elevatin mechanism in lowered posi; tion, the lin is of the--toggles are shown in their greatest angular relation with the result that the posts 26,.1h1'ave beeny drawn down slightly below, orf'iithe plane of the top of the frame 10. The-crank arms l41- and' 43 each lie -atan angle to 'a vertical line drawn .through their -respecti-ve'axes and parallel to 'each lother.-'l`he doublearmed lever 30 is also substantially parallel to the crank 43 while the hand-lever 37, 4shown in dotted lines, is supported 1in .a horizontal .positionf Ifthe yposts-'26 are to be raised to 'elevate a load, the hand-lever 37 is swung/r into, or slightly beyond-a vertical vposit-ion,-

`as in Fig. 7, to carry the crank arms 41, 43,

also'lb'e'yondthe vertical a sufficient distance to cause theshaft 29 and the lever 30 thereon to rock sufficiently far to straighten" the links 33, 34of `the toggles 32 andpreferably carry them slightly beyond the straigh/t line as clearly indicated in Fig.' :7. TheI eight of the load upon the posts tendingtodlyapressl them andv fold lthe `toggles in :the/g pposite direction-is'prevented and the toggles looked in the positionvi shownI byA means .ofi 'the con-i shaft '38 'or'thehub vofthe crank arm\ 41 shortly after: the-toggles have/passed the but this is prevented fby contattof` .thelink 42 'on the shaftBS, ony/thehub 'of the crankA pot 45 fastened to the-innervside-of lthe-l thei fframe for moving Seidl posts.- a rock shaft', meansconnectedetofsaidshaftiand to 'zo To prevent shock, gar and Vinpnv to. the

- mechanism slliouldthe'` hand-lever 37 escape from the operator at any time during the raismg'or'lo'wermg operation, al cushioning means is'provided 1n the form of a dash 75 rame 10, from tlv-iepiston of which dash pot a rod 46 is connected to an'eccentric, or crank 47 on the longitudinal shaft,l 29. When the .shaft is moved tograise the elevating mechanismgthe piston, .of the dash pot moves freely. and without resistance, but

operatesasv a check inthe. usualimanner .to. .,.j' .l control a sudden-descent,ofsaidqmechanism..

lVhat hlaim as new isr'- 85,.y l. 1 In 'a truck,- thecombnation 'wth .a.i`

iframe, oftanfe'levatin mechanismy coanprisjA I ing a plurality ofn ependent postea ysep- .i arata. toggle. connected ito .each .postpand ,to f

ea'h toggle to actuate said .toggles in unison and simultaneously movefsaid posts,,and operating means-.forwroekingzsad shaft tov raise and Alower-the velevating mechanism, 25 'said shaft bei/ng. automatically rlocked in wone i 1. Y. extreme position :to prevent. ZoverihfQW 0.55K said rookfshaftfand .togglefmelanism 2. AIn a truck,` her5combination-withial't frame, ,of an velevatingA 'meehanis'mgeompri zA. ing a yplurality of independentgp'osts sjlidaj.- ble vertically 'in said :frame toraise. and .supj' port/a. load, said'posts lyingwithin .the-top. surface ofathe truck Iframewhen :out: ,of use; `a ,separate togglconnected to eachpostgand to the-frame or mtr/ ingi [aid ,posts rock shaft, a .pluralityofplevr .armsf-,on'said I I shaft, al linky connectingveach; .alili'vwithiga l toggle to attuate-said? togg esiinilnisonalid. simultaneouslyv move said .lpestsf and. opera- 1,1@ ating means for rocking s "dshafttoQrais-,e and lower said .elevatnglm Tanism. I 3.v In a truck, thegcomhinationwith frame, of an elevating mechanism compris mg aplurality of independentgposts Aslijdable;v vertically insaid -frame tofraise and support. .i

to the frame for moving xsaiclfypost,s/a rock shaft, arplurahty effleurer; arms/."lon/said shaft, eo Directingy each .a'rm with toggle toactuate said.toggles in .simultaneously movesaid p,os 100k-Shaft lying parallel to. the, rfstfnamed'i. -1 shaft, an-arm fixedion eachivof said shafts, a, cpnnecting ,Saidarms,. anda.l .handvlevelj .i on saidsecond shaftioryj-roekilngthe ma Hollande.. f

(,Qaseeond and raisingy and .lowering-Ethel elevating meChamSms the, hnkfcnllfilg: .the arms on tio."

iis

the roclr shafts being brought into contactA y thereto, and a plurality of slide-Ways on one side of each of said cross-bars,'of an elevating mechanism comprising a post slidable vertically in each of said guideways to raise and support a load, a separate toggle 'connected to each of said posts and to a cross-bar for moving 'said posts, a rockshaft, a plurality of lever arms on said rock shaft, a link connecting one of said arms to each toggle to actuate said toggles in unison and simultaneously move said posts, and

manually operated means for rocking said shaft and to raise and lower the elevating mechanism.

5. In a truck having a rectangular frame provided withV cross-bars extending between opposite sides thereof and rigidly secured theretoand pairs of parallel ribs projecting from one side of each of said cross-bars forming guide-Ways, of an elevating mechanism comprising a plurality of independent posts slidable vertically in said guide-ways to raise and support a load, a separate toggle connected with each of said posts and to a cross-bar for movingl said posts, a rock shaft, means connected to said shaft and to each toggle to actuate said toggles inunison and simultaneously move said posts, and operating means for rocking said shaft to raise. and lower said elevating mechanism, said shaft operating means being automaticallylocked in one eXtreme position to prevent overthrow of said rock shaft and toggle mechanism.

G. In a truck having a rectangular frame provided with cross-bars extending between opposite sides thereof and rigidly secured thereto, and pairs of parallelribs proliecting from one side of each of said cross-bars to comprising a plurality of independent vposts rhaving side anges that slide vertically in said guide-ways, means iXed to said ribs and overlying the flanges for maintaining said posts within said slideways, separate toggle connected to each of said posts and to a cross-bar for moving said posts, a rock shaft, vmeans connected to said shaft and to each toggle to actuate said toggles in unison and simultaneously move said posts, and manually operated means for rocking said shafts to raise and lower said elevating mechanism.

7. In a truck, the combination with a frame, of an elevating mechanism comprising a plurality-of independent posts slidable vertically in said frame to raise and support a load, a separate toggle connected to each post and to said frame for moving said posts, a rock shaft, means connected to said shaft and to each toggle toactuate said toggles in unison and move the elements thereof in a straight line to simultaneously elevate all the posts, a second rock shaft lying parallel to the first-named shaft, an arm fixed on eachof said shafts and lying parallel to each other, Va link connecting said arms that bears upon said second shaft when the toggles are moved slightly beyond the straight line and locks said toggles against further movement in the same direction, and a handlever on `.said second shaft foi" rocking the same.

8. In a truck, the combination with a frame, of an elevating mechanism comprising a plurality of independent posts slidable vertically in said frame to raise and support a load, a separate toggle connected to each post and to the frame for moving said posts, a rock shaft, means connected to said shaft and to each toggle to actuate said toggles in unison and simultaneously raise and lo'wer said posts, manually operated means for rocking said shaft to raise and lower said elevating mechanism, and means connected to and yoperated by the rock shaft to' cushion the descent of said mechanism and prevent injury by shock and jar thereto. 9..In a truck, the combination with a frame, of an elevating mechanism com rising a plurality of independent verticgllyslidable posts, a post-elevating toggle' for each post, a toggle-operating rock shaft to which each of said toggles is suitably connected, manually-operated means for rocking said shaft, said shaft-operating means being automatically locked in one extreme position to prevent overthrow of said rock shaft and toggle-mechanism.

l0. in a truck, the combination with a frame, of an elevating mechanism comprising a `plurality of independent vertical-lyslidable posts, a post-elevating toggle for each post, a toggle-operating rock-shaft .to which each of said toggles is suitably connected, a crank-shaft linked to said rocksliaft and manually operable to rock said' toggle-operating shaft and actuate said toggle-mechanism, said-crankshaft being automatically locked in one extreme position to prevent overthrow of said rock-shaft and toggle-mechanism.

l1. In a truck, the'combination with a frame, of an elevating mechanism comprising a plurality of independent verticallyslidable posts, a post-elevating toggle for each post, a4 toggle-operating rock-shaft to which each of said toggles is suitably connected, a crank-shaft, means for operating said crank-shaft, a link connecting said crank-shaft with said rock-shaft, said link being so placed as to bear upon said cranksha'ft when the latter isl in an extreme position of movement and automatically lock the toggle operating shaft and togglemechanism to prevent the overthrowA of said rockshaft and toggle-mechanism. l

12. In a truck, the combination "a frame, of an elevating mechanismeoprising a plurality of independent poSts,'a-post elevating toggle for each post', a rockshaf@ means connected to said shaft -and to each 10 toggle tomactuate said toggles in unison and,

ing means for rocking said shaft to raise and' lower the elevating mechanism. Y

messes.

Witnesses' f p i CHAs. GRAF?, i GERTRDE MJSTUCKER.' Y' 4 GEORGEWfpREXELIUS. 

